Mastronardi Produce Ltd., a Canada-based grower and distributor of specialty and commodity greenhouse produce sold under the SUNSET brand, acquired Backyard Farms, a grower of year-round greenhouse-grown tomatoes based in Madison, Maine. Mastronardi Produce will retain the Backyard Farms brand name and continue to represent high-quality locally grown produce and greenhouse operations in Madison.

Together, Mastronardi and Backyard Farms will supply world-class, non-GMO-verified tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers to food retailers in North America.

The addition of Backyard Farms will also increase Mastronardi’s internal greenhouse network to six locations across North America, and increase the combined company’s headcount to approximately 3,000 employees.

“We have long been impressed with Backyard Farms’ commitment to fresh, high-quality tomatoes,” says Paul Mastronardi, president and CEO of Mastronardi Produce. “Backyard Farms not only is a growing customer-focused tomato grower with a strong and well-known presence in the Northeastern United States, but it also shares the same community-centric ethos that drives Mastronardi. Being a family-operated business, we have long prioritized our local communities and a ‘fresh from the farm’ commitment to our customers that we believe are critically important to our success. With Backyard Farms’ complementary capabilities, loyal and passionate customer base, growing footprint and enthusiasm for premium, vine-ripe tomatoes, we are excited for what our future holds together. We look forward to working alongside Stuart Jablon and his talented team as we continue serving customers the great produce they have come to expect from the familiar SUNSET and Backyard Farms brands.”

Backyard Farms operates two greenhouses totaling 42 acres in Madison, from which it produces and delivers fresh tomatoes to the Northeastern United States year-round.

“We are excited to be taking our business to its next level of operations,” says Stuart Jablon, who will continue to lead Backyard Farms. “Joining the Mastronardi team allows us to continue expanding our business to reach more customers while remaining committed to growing the freshest, best-tasting fruit possible and deepening our community relationships. We look forward to being a part of a market leader and making sure that customers continue to receive fresh and high-quality produce throughout every season.”